Alyson Johnson

Alyson Johnson is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 12 years of experience who encourages practical steps toward feeling better. She welcomes people who are tired of living with stress, anxiety, anger, grief, or struggles with addiction and self-esteem. Her approach is down-to-earth and focused on small changes that add up over time.

She believes everyone has strengths to build on and that the client knows themself best. Sessions focus on identifying those strengths and using them to manage cravings, mood swings, or overwhelming feelings. Alyson combines clear goal-setting with listening and gentle guidance so progress feels manageable.

Alyson draws on Client-Centered Therapy to keep the conversation focused on the person's experience and priorities. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to spot thinking patterns that fuel anger or depression, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills to help with emotional regulation and distress tolerance.

Motivational Interviewing is part of how she supports change when someone is unsure about next steps. Solution-Focused Therapy helps keep sessions practical and oriented toward achievable goals. Together these methods help people cope with life changes, workplace stress, relationship endings, and the fallout of substance use.

She lives in Northern Illinois and brings a background in recreation and social work into her practice. Alyson aims to make everyday life more enjoyable by helping clients move toward their goals one step at a time.

How her approaches translate to online therapy

Alyson uses Client-Centered Therapy to focus on the person’s priorities and to shape sessions around what matters most to them. This approach is about listening, reflecting, and helping people find their own solutions to stress, anger, or life changes.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is another key method she uses to identify unhelpful thinking and to practice different ways of responding. CBT can be useful for anxiety, depression, and anger by breaking problems into manageable steps and homework between sessions.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Alyson will help clients weigh options based on goals, needs, and preferences, and she adapts methods over time if something isn’t working. The process is collaborative and aimed at building skills that fit everyday life.

If you are considering online therapy, confirm the specific session formats available before booking. This will tell you whether sessions are offered by video, phone, or other means. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, allow for shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time so people can focus on goals and skill practice.